Thornwood Flood Meadow Local Nature Reserve

Size: 2.7 hectares 

Grid Reference: TL 471 045

Owners: Epping Forest District Council

LNR Declaration: 23 December 2004

Access: There is open access over the reserve and the entrance is via a public footpath from North Weald High Road, Thornwood Common. Click here for location of the LNR.

 Thornwood Flood Meadow is one of North Weald's three flood storage reservoirs created in 1998 by the District Council and the then National Rivers Authority. Designed to alleviate flooding in Thornwood village, the site is capable of holding 14,350 cubic metres of water in a flood event.

From the outset the meadow has been designed and sympathetically managed for nature conservation within the primary parameters of flood defence. Specially designed wetland scrapes and a wetland meadow was sown to maximise biodiversity. Its development has been a massive success reflected in its designation as a Local Nature Reserve in December 2004 after just 6 years!.

From the outset Countrycare has managed the site in partnership with the Council’s Land Drainage section based in Environment and Street Scene. Contractors carry out much of the heavy engineering works and volunteers working with Countrycare have been responsible for the majority of the important habitat works that have been undertaken. Since 2002, this work has been helped by The Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. This has enabled the planting of over 800 trees creating 200m of boundary hedgerows and financial assistance with the hay making.

The site is of interest all year round, but arguably looks at its best in June when the meadows are in full flower. Plants such as ragged robin, oxeye daisy and knapweed add a splash of colour and attract a range of butterflies and other insects. The wetland scrapes are ideal for dragonflies in the summer and wetland birds such as snipe can be seen in the winter if you are lucky.

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